2017 - 2018

Spillways
Spillways
The spillway is among the most important
structures of a dam project. It provides
the project with the ability to release
excess or flood water in a controlled or
uncontrolled manner to ensure the
safety of the project

Spillways

The spillway should be designed to

accommodate the probable maximum flood

Many types of spillways can be considered with

respect to cost, topographic conditions,
dam height, foundation geology, and
hydrology.
 Components of Spillways
Spillways can be built as part of the main dam or
separately.
 MAJOR COMPONENTS OF SPILLWAYS

In general, spillways comprise five distinct components namely:

(i) an entrance channel,

(ii) a control structure,

(iii) a discharge carrier,

(iv) an energy dissipater, and

(v) an outlet channel.

.
MAJOR COMPONENTS OF SPILLWAYS
The entrance channel transfers water from the reservoir to
the control structure, which regulates the discharge from
the reservoir. Water is then conveyed from reservoir to
the low-level energy dissipater on the riverbed by the
discharge conveyor. An energy dissipater is required to
reduce the high velocity of the flow to a non-scouring
magnitude
TYPES OF SPILLWAYS

a. Overflow of Ogee spillway.

b. Straight drop or free over fall spillway.

c. Siphon spillway

d. Shaft or glory hole spillway.

e. Side channel spillway.

f. Gate spillway.

g. Tunnel spillway.

h. Chute spillway.
Free Over fall or Straight Drops

 In this type the flow drops freely from the

crest. This type is suited to a crest which has a
nearly vertical face or a free fall. The under side
of the nappe is ventilated sufficiently to parent a
pulsating fluctuating jet.
Free Over fall or Straight Drops
SIPHON SPILLWAY
 A siphon spillway is a closed conduit system
formed in the shape of an inverted U tube. Initial
discharges are similar to those of weir, but when air in
bend over the crest, is drawn away by the flowing
water, siphonic action starts and continued flow is
maintained by suction effect due to gravity pull of
water in the lower leg.
SIPHON SPILLWAY
Drop inlet or glory hole spillway

 In this type of spillway water enters a

horizontal circular crest and drops through a
vertical or slopping shaft and then flows
downstream through a horizontal conduit tunnel.
This type is suitable to dam sites in narrows
valley. Another advantage is that maximum
capacity is attained at relatively low heads.
Drop inlet or glory hole spillway
SIDE CHANNEL SPILLWAY
• The control weir is placed along the side of and approximately parallel to the
upper portion of spillway discharge channel. Flow over the crest falls into a
narrows trough opposite the weir and then turns at right angle and then continues
into main discharge drain.
Channel Rest

Channel Rough

Chute

Chute Blocks

Stilling Basin
Dentated Sills

SIDE CHANNEL SPILLWAY

 Gate or Barrage Type Spillway
• It consists of a series of gates separated by pier with floors

in between the piers to prevent scour and undermining.

CHUTE SPILLWAY

 A spillway where discharge is conveyed

from the reservoir to the downstream level
through an open channel placed along a dam
abutment or through a saddle. This type is
mostly used with earth dam.
Tunnel or Conduit Spillway

 Where a closed channel is used to convey a discharge, the

spillway is called a tunnel or conduit spillway.
OGEE SPILLWAY
OGEE SPILLWAY

 The shape of the flow nappe over a sharp

crested weir has been interpreted by the
principle of the projectile. According to this, a
particle on the lower nappe has a horizontal
velocity = vo*cosθ and a vertical component of
vo*sinθ less the effects of gravity. This would
result in a parabolic profile for the lower nappe.
 The classical argument is that a solid profile
constructed to the shape of the lower nappe would result
in atmospheric pressure along the face of the crest.
 Such a crest would have to be designed for one head only,
Hd. a head less than this would cause above atmospheric
pressure on the face and a head greater than Hd would cause
sub – atmospheric pressure this would be objectionable if it the
design head or reference head for a particular crest.
DESIGN PRINCIPLE OF OGEE SPILLWAY

1 – Discharge Coefficient

Discharge is given by:

Q = C.Le.He3/2

Where:

Le = effective length of the crest.

He = total energy head (or effective head) on the crest.

 The discharge coefficient is a function of a number of factors
as follows:

1 – Nature of profile at the top.

2 – Effect of depth of approach.

With decrease in depth of approach, the coefficient of discharge

decrease (when crest height decrease) see fig. 12.15 (page 486).
3 – Effect of heads differing from design heads for depths higher
than design depth the discharge coefficient increases and for
depths lower than design depth the discharge coefficient
decreases. See fig 12.16.

4 – Effect of upstream face slope.

Generally, the slope of upstream face results in an increase in

discharge coefficient. See 12.17.

5 – Effect of downstream apron interference and downstream sub

– mergence.
 When the water level below an over flow weir is high enough to
affect the discharge, the weir is said to be submerged. See Fig. 12.18.
hd  d
When the value of exceeds 1.7, the downstream position has
Hd

little effect on the discharge coefficient.

But, there is decrease in discharge coefficient caused by tail water
Cs h
submergence. See Fig. 12.19. VS d
C Hd
Design of Piers and abutments
When crest piers and abutments are shaped to cause the side contractions of
the overflow, the effective length will be less than the net length of crest.

Le = L' – 2(N*Kp + Ka)*He

Le = effective length of the crest.
L' = length of crest.

N = Number of piers.

Kp = piers contraction coefficient

Ka = abutment contraction coefficient

He = effective head or total head on crest including head due to velocity head of
approach.
Average piers coefficients are as follows:

Type of Piers Kp

For square nosed piers 0.02

For rounded nosed piers 0.01

For pointed nosed piers 0.01

(90o cut water)

Average abutment coefficients are as follows:

Type of abutments Ka

Square abutment with a head wall 0.2

For rounded abutment with a head wall 0.1

Design Criteria for Upstream Profile

U.S. Army has recommended the following equation

(origin at the crest):

The curve extends (x = - 0.27Hd) upstream and y =

0.126Hd downstream from the crest point.
Design Criteria for Pressures over Spillway

For medium high spillways negative pressure of about –

1.5 m of water may be permitted. For heads of 1.33 Hd, the
values of negative pressure of 0.6 Hd are expected. Under
partial opening of gates, negative pressure of order 0.1 Hd
were recorded. U.S.B.R. permits negative pressures of order
4.8 m head of water. Indian Standard Specifications permit a
negative pressure = 3 m of water.
DESIGN OF SIDE WALLS

To the solid steam profile could be added the effect

of air entrainment which would increase the water
depth.

The flow profiles with and without air entrainment

are given in fig. 12.20 and 12.21 which can be used in
the design of height of side walls.
Design Example

• Design an Ogee spillway with the following data:

1.Height of spillway crest from river bed 100 m

2.No. of spans (clear) 5
3.Length of each span (clear) 12.5 m
4.Thickness of each piers 3m
5.Downstream slope of spillway glacis 0.8H: 1V
6.Tail water curve is below D2 curve.

7.Rock condition is Good

8.Discharge (Design) 8500 m3/sec

Design

1 - Head over crest and coefficient of discharge

Clear waterway = 5 * 12.5 = 62.5 m
8500 3 2
Intensity of discharge (q) =  136 m /sec/m (m /sec)
62.5
Let us assume a coefficient of discharge C = 2.1

Q = C.Be.He3/2
8500 = 2.1*62.5* He3/2

He = 16.2 m
a – Effect of approach depth.

P = 100 m
P 100
  6.2  3 , No effect of approach
H e 16.2
Depth from Fig. 12.15, take C = 2.2

8500 = 2.2*62.5*He3/2

He = 15.63 m

b – Effect of head due to velocity of approach.

8500 8500
Velocity approach =   0.987
(62.5  4 * 3)(100  15.63) 8614.44
Va2 (0.987) 2
Head due to velocity (velocity head) =   0.05 m
2 g 2 * 9.81
This is very small and may be neglected.
c – Effect of tail water condition.

d  hd P  H e 100  15.63
In this case    7.4
He He 15.63
This is more than 1.7; the discharge coefficient is not affected by
tail water condition.
d – Effect of u.s. face slope.

The u.s. face of the dam is proposed to be kept vertical.

A batter of 1:10 well is provided from stability
conditions in the lower part with no effect on
coefficient of discharge.
2 – EFFECTIVE LENGTH OF SPILLWAY
90°nosed piers are proposed to be used and also rounded
abutments.

Le = L – 2(N*Kp + Ka)*He

= 62.5 – 2*(4*0.01 + 0.1)*15.63

= 58.1 m
Q = C.Be.He3/2
8500 = 2.2*58.1*He3/2

He = 16.41 m

Le = L – 2(N*Kp + Ka)*He

= 62.5 – 2*(4*0.01 + 0.1)*16.41

= 57.91 m

8500 = 2.2*57.91*He3/2

He = 16.41 m; Say 16.5 m

Downstream Profile

The profile was recommended by U.S.

Army (Waterway Experimental Station (WES)).

x1.85
Substituting Hd = 16.5 m, yield y
21.67
Tangent point coordinate

Slope of d.s. glacis = 0.8H: 1V.

dy 1
But,   1.25
dx 0.8

x = 23.51 m, y = 15.88 m
THE COORDINATE FOR THE DOWNSTREAM PROFILE ARE:

x (m) y (m) x(m) y (m)

0 0 14 6.088
2 0.166 16 7.794
4 0.600 18 9.692
6 1.270 20 11.777
8 2.162 22 14.048
10 3.270 23.51 15.884
12 4.580
3 – Upstream Profile

The u.s. profile is given by the equation:

Substituting Hd = 16.5 m

The u.s. profile extends up to

x = – 0.27 Hd = 4.45 m; y = 0.126 Hd = 2.08 m

x (m) y (m) x(m) y (m)
0 0 -3 0.666
- 0.5 0.072 -4 1.348
- 1.0 0.108 - 4.45 2.08
- 2.0 0.294
4 – Pressures

At head equal to 1.33 Hd i.e., 1.33*16.5 =

22 m of head over the crest, negative pressure
= - 0.6 Hd = - 10 m of water head. This is high
and hence aeration arrangements are
necessary.
5 – Aeration

To control negative pressures and consequently

cavitation damage, aeration pipe 25 mm diameter at
3 m c/c.
6 – Upper nappe profile and height of side walls

The nappe coordinates in the design for H/ Hd = 1

x/ Hd x (m) Center of span Along piers
y/ Hd y (m) y/ Hd y (m)
- 1.0 - 16.5 - 0.941 - 15.53 - 0.950 - 15.68
- 0.8 - 13.2 - 0.932 - 15.38 - 0.940 - 15.51
- 0.6 - 9.9 - 0.913 - 15.06 - 0.929 - 15.33
- 0.4 - 6.6 - 0.890 - 14.69 - 0.930 - 15.35
- 0.2 - 3.3 - 0.855 - 14.11 - 0.925 - 15.26
0.0 0.0 - 0.805 - 13.28 - 0.779 - 12.85
0.2 3.3 - 0.735 - 12.13 - 0.651 - 10.74
0.4 6.6 - 0.647 - 10.68 - 0.545 - 8.99
0.6 9.9 - 0.539 - 8.89 - 0.425 - 7.01
0.8 13.2 - 0.389 - 6.42 - 0.285 - 4.70
1.0 16.5 - 0.202 - 3.33 - 0.121 - 2.00
1.2 19.8 + 0.015 + 0.25 + 0.067 + 1.11
1.4 23.1 + 0.266 + 4.39 + 0.286 + 4.72
1.6 26.4 + 0.521 + 8.60 + 0.521 + 8.60
1.8 29.7 + 0.860 + 14.19 + 0.779 + 12.85
The velocities and depths of water with air can be
evaluated from Fig. 12.20 and 12.21
Head below Velocity Depth of solid Depth of water and
crest (m) (m/sec) water (m) air maximum
10 20.9 5.5 5.90
20 24 5.0 5.5
30 27.4 4.2 4.75
40 28.7 4.0 4.60
50 32.8 3.5 4.10
60 36.0 3.2 3.70
70 38.4 3.0 3.65
80 41.0 2.8 3.60
90 44.2 2.6 3.55
• Provide a 1.5 m free board over the water depth with
air entrained.

7 – Shape of Pier
90° cut water nosed pier is hydraulically efficient and gives
minimum contraction coefficient.

Thickness of pier = t = 3 m

Radius of cut water = 1.6*t = 1.6*3 = 4.8 m

Energy dissipation Ski – Jump bucket
• Since foundation rock is good and tail water level is lower
than D2 curve ski – jump bucket is an ideal and economical
solution.

a – Bucket Invert
• It is necessary to provide a concrete cover of 1.5 to 3 m
over the bed rock. The bucket lip is always higher than
maximum tail water level.
b – Bucket Radius

The theoretical velocity at bucket invert or start of hydraulic

jump can be evaluated using V. T. Chow formula:

VT  2 g ( H  0.5H d ) …………………………………………………. (4)

Where:

VT = the theoretical velocity at the bucket invert or start of

hydraulic jump (m/sec).

H = Difference of u.s. reservoir elevation and bucket invert (m).

• Because of surface friction and probably aeration, the actual
velocity VA is slightly less than VT. Fig 2.33 gives the ratio of
actual to theoretical velocity at entrance to stilling basin for
different values of H and Hd.
 The bucket radius may be taken as the lowest of the following:

1. R.S. Varshney's curve fig.

2.35. Relation between the
vertical distance between
u.s. reservoir elevation and
bucket invert (m) and
bucket radius in (m).

 H = 116.5

 R = 23 m
2 – The following relation:

R  0.6 H ' H d …………………………………………………… (5)

Where:

H' = fall from the crest of the spillway to bucket invert (m).

Hd = design head over crest (m).

R  0.6 H ' H d
 0.6 100 * 16 .5 = 24.37 m, say 24.4 m
3 – Using V.T. Chow's formula:
R = 0.305*10P ................................................................. (6)
Where:

VA = the actual velocity at the toe of spillway in m/sec.

VT  2 * 9.81(16.5  100  0.5 * 16.5) = 46.09 m/sec.

From Fig. 2.33, VA/VT = 0.98
VA = 0.98*46.09 = 45.17 m/sec.
45.17  6.4 * 16.5  4.88
P = 1.973
3.6 * 16.5  9.5

R = 0.305*101.973 = 28.65 m.
4 – VARSHNEY'S DIMENSIONLESS FORMULA:
 R
F1  0.09   1.98 …………………………………………… (7)
 D1 
Where:
D1 = depth of flow at bucket invert.
F1 = Froude number at bucket invert.

q = 114.1 m2/sec,
q 114.1 45.17
D1    2.53 m, F1   9.07
VA 45.17 9.81 * 2.53

 R 
9.07  0.09   1.98 , R = 29 m
 2.53 
5 – Varshney's Bajaj's formula:

F1 = 13.0R0.25 – 19.5 .……...……………………….....… (8)

9.07 = 13*R0.25 – 19.5

R = 23.33 m

The least of the above values R = 23 m is adopted.

c – Exit angle
An exit angle of 30°to 35° will make a good choice. The
following formula by Varshney may be used to check the
bucket exit angle in degrees:

R
F1  0.00009  3  8 ……………………………………………….. (9)
 H  equation can be used for F < 8, and after
The above 1

neglecting minus sign it can be used for F1 > 8.

D – LIP SHAPE
The lip will be a sloping one with 2 horizontal and 1
vertical slope in a vertical distance of 1.5 m, and therefore it
would meet the rock surface at slope of 45°(1 Hor. : 1 Ver).
e – Length and height of trajectory:

Length of trajectory can be found as:

VA2 sin 2
xk ………………………………………………… (10)
g
k = constant which account for air resistance = 0.95

The ski – jump will rise to height;

f – Dynamic Pressure on Spillway and bucket
Pressure on bucket can be found by Gummenesky's formula:

 VA2 
hd    1 * h ……………………………………………… (11)
g *R 

hd = head at any point on the bucket in m of water.

R = radius of curvature of bucket (m).
h = hydrostatic head over point reference.= D1 = 2.53 m

 45.17 2 
hd    1 * 2.53 = 25.4 m of water.
 9.81 * 23 
By Balloffet's formula

The bucket shall be designed for pressure of 25.5 m of water.

HOME WORK EXAMPLE

• Design an Ogee spillway with the following data:

1. Height of spillway crest from river bed = 60 m

2. Take into account the effect of abutments and piers.

3. Downstream slope of spillway 0.6H: 1V

4. Tail water curve is below D 2 curve.

5. Very good rock condition

6. Design discharge = 3500 m3/sec

7. Crest length = 60 m